Airport Walkout Ends -- For Now

The Aviation Union (IAU) has submitted a proposed solution to the dispute to the handlers' new employer, the human resources company Barona. The latter has already rejected the proposal, but the workers are to remain on the job until Tuesday at least anyway.

That should provide some relief for thousands of passengers awaiting delivery of bags stacked up at the airport's Terminal 2 and a nearby warehouse. Terminal 1, which is used by other airlines, is operating normally.

IAU expects a formal response from Barona by Sunday evening. It says the handlers will quit again if the answer is no. Barona CEO Markus Oksa said immediately that it would be impossible to accept the union's offer.

"This includes additional issues that have not previously been discussed, as well as tougher stands on matters that had already been agreed," he told YLE. "It's impossible for us to accept this paper."

Finnair cancelled at least 11 round-trip flights on Friday. It expects service to gradually return to normal over the weekend, though a few flights may still be cancelled on Saturday and Sunday.

Since the walkout began on Monday, some 12,000 pieces of luggage have been stuck at Finland's main airport. So far just over 4,000 have been returned to their owners.

Finnair says it has been forced to axe about 90 flights this week, disrupting travel plans for nearly 9,000 passengers. It has also had to cancel half of its cargo traffic. No European air cargo shipments are arriving in Finland; however, North American and Asian cargo transports are flying in. Within Finland, only emergency deliveries such as blood supplies are being flown.

The walkout has also slowed postal deliveries.

Progress Reported in Airport Dispute; More Flights Cancelled